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Cespedes' homer carries Red Sox

2-run shot in 8th inning overcomes 2-1 deficit vs. Reds

Associated Press
| on August 12, 2014

Photo: Joe Robbins

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CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 12: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the Boston Red Sox follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 12, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Red Sox won 3-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 477587897 less

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 12: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the Boston Red Sox follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 12, ... more

Photo: Joe Robbins

Cespedes' homer carries Red Sox

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Cincinnati

After being brushed back, Yoenis Cespedes got payback.

One pitch after ducking away from Jonathan Broxton's high-and-inside fastball, Cespedes launched a no-doubt, 433-foot drive to center field with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

"A lot of times when pitchers throw high and tight, they think the batter backs off and gets flustered," Cespdes said after the game through a translator. "That's not how I am. I get more focused."

Manager John Farrell pointed out that the eighth-inning, go-ahead homer was Cespedes' second in two games, giving Boston back-to-back victories for the first time since a five-game winning streak from July 13-21. Cespedes hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning of Sunday's 3-1 win over the Angels.

"Broxton stood him up, then he got a fastball out over the plate, and (Cespedes) showed how strong he is," Farrell said. "I'm not saying it was intentional."

Cespedes hit his 19th homer of the season. He has reached base at least once in all nine games he's played for the Red Sox since they acquired him from Oakland in a trade.

Broxton's approach was the same used by the Reds all night, manager Bryan Price said.

"I have no regrets about Broxton," Price said. "He went right after (Cespedes). We jammed him the first two times up. We were trying to come inside on him."

Tommy Layne (1-0) got the final out of the seventh inning for the win. Broxton (4-1) was the loser.

Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his 26th save.

Athletics 11, Royals 3: Jon Lester pitched six strong innings and Josh Donaldson homered twice and drove in four runs as Oakland snapped Kansas City's eight-game winning streak. Lester (13-7) struck out nine and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks.

Astros 10, Twins 4: Chris Carter hit two homers and drove in five runs to lead Houston.

Marlins 3, Cardinals 0: Jarred Cosart (10-7) pitched seven innings in a duel with Adam Wainwright to earn his first victory for Miami. Cosart allowed three hits and one walk. Wainwright (14-7), making his first start against the Marlins since 2010, missed a chance to became the first 15-game winner in the majors

Dodgers 4, Braves 2: Dan Haren (10-9) pitched six innings and sparked the go-ahead rally with an RBI single in the fifth.